Big Black Delta

Big Black Delta
black-and-white image of Jonathan Bates wearing an open denim shirt, looking down solemnly
Bates in 2020
Background information
OriginLos Angeles, U.S.
Genres
Years active2010–present
LabelsMaster of Bates
Member ofMellowdrone
MembersJonathan Bates
Websitebigblackdelta.com

Big Black Delta is a solo project by Mellowdrone vocalist/bassist Jonathan Bates.

History

Bates began the project in 2010, after becoming frustrated with the logistics of a band.[1] Thanks to help from Alessandro Cortini of Nine Inch Nails, he discovered the possibilities of producing music on a laptop and set about building a new sound.[2]

In 2013, Bates released his debut album, Big Black Delta, which contained a mix of fresh material and songs released on an early-release, limited-edition of the record, titled BBDLP1.[3] The album was issued on Bates' own label, Masters of Bates, and was inspired by the soundtracks of the films Blade Runner and Solaris.[4] It was positively received by critics and was compared by one reviewer to music from Muse and the Joy Formidable.[5][6] Remixes of songs from the album have since come from Jimmy Edgar, John Tejada, Azari & III, and Martyn.[7] The video for "Side of the Road", directed by Warren Kommers, was inspired by Bates' love of astrophysics and astronomy.[8][4]

Big Black Delta has collaborated with a number of other artists, such as War Widow, Alessandro Cortini, Susanne Sundfør, and Morgan Kibby, and played in support of Gary Numan, M83, and Jane's Addiction on their respective tours. The project has received praise from Jay Z on his blog, Life+Times.[9][10]

In 2016, Big Black Delta released his second album, Trágame Tierra. It was financed via PledgeMusic, a music-focused crowdsourcing website, which allowed Bates to issue the album independently. It includes collaborations with Debbie Gibson on "RCVR" and Kimbra on "Bitten by the Apple". It was supported by a North American headlining tour.[11]

Big Black Delta's third album, the all-instrumental WHORU812, was released on eOne Music Canada in June 2017. Prior to its publication, Bates announced he would do only one live performance in 2017, at the Viaduct in Los Angeles.[12]

The songs "Huggin & Kissin" and "Capsize" were used in the 2017 USA Network show The Sinner.[13]

On January 31, 2020, Bates and fellow Los Angeles band Sego (who previously toured in support of Big Black Delta) released a split cover EP called Quid Pro Quo, which saw Sego covering the Big Black Delta song "Into the Night," and Bates covering Sego's "Shame".[14][15]

On March 20, 2020, Big Black Delta released the single "Summoner", from his upcoming fourth album. It was accompanied by a music video directed by Warren Kommers and Nina McNeely.[16] The track was later remixed by James Welsh, Clearside, and the Bodies Obtained.[17] On May 15, 2020, Big Black Delta announced the upcoming release of the album 4 on July 10[18] and issued the single "Lord Only Knows", with an accompanying music video, directed by Adam Osgood. On June 12, "Canary", the third single from 4, came out.[19]

Big Black Delta had two original songs featured on the soundtrack for the 2020 film Bill & Ted Face the Music.[20]

Discography

Studio albums

EPs

  • BBDEP1 (2010)
  • EP2.5A7 (2013)
  • Quid Pro Quo (2020) (split with Sego)

Singles

  • "He's a Whore" (with War Widow) (2010)
  • "IFUCKINGLOVEYOU" (2012)
  • "Side of the Road" (2013)
  • "Money Rain Down" (2013)
  • "Huggin & Kissin" (2014)
  • "It's OK" (2015)
  • "RCVR (feat. Debbie Gibson)" (2015)
  • "Steer the Canyon" (2016)
  • "Bitten by the Apple" (feat. Kimbra) (2016)
  • "Brooks was here2a" (2017)
  • "Roost" (2019)
  • "Orinoco Symphony" (2019)
  • "Summoner" (2020)
  • "Lord Only Knows" (2020)
  • "Canary" (2020)

Music videos

  • "IFUCKINGLOVEYOU"[22] (2010)
  • "Betamax"[23] (2011)
  • "Side of the Road"[24] (2013)
  • "x22[25] (2013)
  • "Money Rain Down"[26] (2013)
  • "Love You This Summer"[27] (2013)
  • "Huggin & Kissin"[28] (2014)
  • "Bitten by the Apple"[29] (2016)
  • "Summoner"[30] (2020)
  • "Lord Only Knows"[31] (2020)
  • "Canary"[32] (2020)
  • "Vessel"[33] (2020)

Remixes

References

  1. ^ "Interview: Big Black Delta Coming to Church". Allston Pudding. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  2. ^ Randall, Brent (April 14, 2013). "Meet The Band Jay-Z Is a Big Fan of – Big Black Delta". Husk Magazine. Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  3. ^ Davis, Hays (October 18, 2013). "Big Black Delta – Home in His Hand". Under The Radar. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Tangeras, Ida Marie (September 12, 2013). "Interview: Big Black Delta – I've come close to death". NBHAP. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Metacritic – Big Black Delta". Metacritic. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "Big Black Delta – Big Black Delta – Albums". musicOMH. April 16, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2018.
  7. ^ "Big Black Delta Bonus Disc". Discogs. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "CLIO 2015 Awards". Archived from the original on September 25, 2015. Retrieved September 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Life+Times Premiere: Big Black Delta". Life+Times. August 21, 2012. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  10. ^ "Big Black Delta – Tour Details". Songkick. Retrieved September 25, 2015.
  11. ^ "Interview with Big Black Delta: How chatting with a friend landed him a dream Debbie Gibson collaboration". Grimy Goods. May 4, 2016. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  12. ^ "Big Black Delta". www.facebook.com. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  13. ^ Greene, Steve (September 14, 2017). "How 'The Sinner' Turned One Song Into a Terrifying Murder Clue and the Show's Secret Weapon". IndieWire. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Axeman, Stephen. "Premiere: Sego/Big Black Delta Share New Split Single". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  15. ^ "Into the Night (feat. Big Black Delta), by Sego". Sego. Retrieved March 11, 2020.
  16. ^ Axeman, Stephen. "Premiere: Big Black Delta Shares Video for New Track "Summoner" and Announces New Album". undertheradarmag.com. Retrieved March 23, 2020.
  17. ^ Pickard, Joshua (April 16, 2020). "Big Black Delta inspires James Welsh, The Bodies Obtained, and Clearside to experiment with remixes for "Summoner" (BPM Premiere) | Beats Per Minute". beatsperminute.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  18. ^ "Big Black Delta (Mellowdrone/M83) preps new LP — stream "Lord Only Knows"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  19. ^ "Listen to Big Black Delta's ominously psychedelic new single 'Canary'". NME. June 11, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  20. ^ "Weezer share "Beginning of the End" from the Bill & Ted 3 soundtrack: Stream". Consequence of Sound. August 14, 2020. Retrieved August 14, 2020.
  21. ^ "Big Black Delta's "ADONAI" Album Coming: Shares Ethereal New Single". audiofuzz.com. October 21, 2024. Retrieved November 21, 2024.
  22. ^ "IFUCKINGLOVEYOU". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  23. ^ "Betamax – Official Video". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  24. ^ "Big Black Delta – Side of the Road (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  25. ^ "Big Black Delta – X22". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  26. ^ "Big Black Delta – Money Rain Down (Official Music Video)". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  27. ^ "Big Black Delta – Love You This Summer". YouTube. Retrieved January 17, 2015.
  28. ^ "Big Black Delta – Huggin & Kissin". YouTube. Retrieved November 22, 2017.
  29. ^ "Big Black Delta – Bitten by the Apple feat. Kimbra (official video)". Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  30. ^ "Summoner Pts. 1–4". Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  31. ^ "Lord Only Knows". Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  32. ^ "Listen to Big Black Delta's ominously psychedelic new single 'Canary'". NME. June 11, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.
  33. ^ "Magnet Exclusive: Big Black Delta's "Vessel" Video". Magnet Magazine. July 9, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2020.